"Our country has a clear stand and we do not want to enter into any compromise with the pirates. Our country is great and sovereign, and we do not abide by or submit to the will of the pirates," Wiranto stated.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - As a sovereign state, Indonesia will not submit to the whims of pirates such as the Filipino separatist group, Abu Sayyaf, which has demanded a ransom for the release of hostages.

This was made clear by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Wiranto, while speaking at his office here on Tuesday.

"Our country has a clear stand and we do not want to enter into any compromise with the pirates. Our country is great and sovereign, and we do not abide by or submit to the will of the pirates," Wiranto stated.

According to him, pirate groups like Abu Sayyaf which take citizens of other countries, including Indonesia, hostage, are motivated by financial considerations.

All acts of piracy and hostage-taking are intended to fund their separatist movement in the Philippines, Wiranto added, saying the issue cannot be resolved by the government paying ransom.

Referring to the issue of three citizens who were freed on Sunday (Sept. 18), he asked people not to debate whether their freedom was secured by paying ransom or not.

"We do not want any polemics. There are things that cannot be expressed widely, (and things are alright) as long as they are free and safe," he stressed.

The three who were freed were Lorens Lagadoni Koten (34), Teodorus Kopong Koten (42) and Emanuel Arakian Maran (40). The three men from Bulukumba, East Nusa Tenggara were members of the crew (ABK) of Tug boat LD/114/5S belonging to Chia Tong Len. They were abducted in Lahad Datu waters, Malaysia, last July.

Currently, all three freed hostages are in Zamboanga City, Mindanao Island, and the Indonesian Embassy in Manila was pursuing the case.

Wiranto could not say how they will return---whether they will be directly flown on commercial flights from Zamboanga or will first have to be taken to Manila before being sent to Indonesia.

The freedom of three Indonesian citizens and a citizen of Norway was secured as a result of coordination with the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by Nur Misuari which assisted the negotiation process between the government and Abu Sayyaf.

Earlier, on Sunday (Sept. 18) evening, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu had said negotiations were to secure the release of another citizen.

Although it has not yet been announced by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs or the Defense Minister, Indonesian Embassy in Manila through an official press release has confirmed that five other citizens continue to be prisoners of the Abu Sayyaf group.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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